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Article
A judge in Amsterdam has besluiten om nullify the recent increase in the canal cruise tax.
As a result, cruise company Stromma will now again pay 1.
50 euro per de passagier voor each cruise instead of the increased rate of 2.
70 euro.
de rechtbank noted dat it was unclear welk compensation de gemeente provided voor this additional tax.
Moreover, part of the revenue was used voor initiatives dat were irrelevant om the cruise companies, such as free public transportation voor children.
Entertainment Levy Since January 2020, Amsterdam has been imposing a tax on events taking place on the water, known as the entertainment levy.
de gemeente explained dat maintaining de grachten and other waterways involves hoog de kosten.
Initially, 1.
50 euro per cruise de passagier was charged, welk was later increased om 2.
70 euro.
The increase was felt primarily door the de passagier who bear these de kosten.
Protest from the Cruise Company Cruise company Stromma objected om the increase after paying the taxes voor de jaren 2024 and 2025.
hun criticism was dat de gemeente provided insufficient explanation voor the necessity of this hoog levy.
According om de gemeente, the increase would contribute om a fairer distribution of de kosten of urban facilities, welk operators ook benefit from due om growing visitor numbers.
However, de rechtbank supported Stromma's objections and vinden dat de gemeente had niet clearly explained why and how much extra money was needed.
Part of the revenue went om unrelated projects such as greening public spaces and subsidies dat had nothing om do met canal cruise activities.
Refund retroactive om the third quarter of 2024, the increased tax must now be rolled back.
This means dat Amsterdam must refund the overpaid amount om cruise company Stromma.
Whether this ruling ook has implications voor other canal cruise companies and organizers of water events remains unclear, maar it is likely dat zij, ook, will revert om the old rate of 1.
50 euro per de passagier.
